A 63-year old master athletes was banned for using anabolic steroids at the USA Masters Track & Field Championship on July 28, 2011. Stephen Craig Shumaker, competing for the Long and Strong Throwers Club, tested positive for exogenous testosterone.
Testosterone is considered anabolic steroid and banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The World Anti-Doping Code has been adopted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Shumaker placed first in the shotput and second in the discus at the Nationals. The results were nullified after he was disqualified for two years of active competition by USADA. He may return to competition in July 2013 at the age of 65.
While athletes in the throwing events have a higher rate of adverse analytical findings than other track and field athletes, Shumaker only used steroids for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) administered by his doctor. Steroids were reportedly use therapeutically and not to enhance performance.
The rules under the WADA Code are clear. Masters athletes, or any other athlete for that matter, can legally use anabolic steroids if, and only if, they are approved for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE).
A legal and valid prescription from a doctor is not sufficient justification for the use of testosterone, or any other steroid, in athletic competitions that have adopted WADA Anti-Doping Code.
Shumaker reportedly failed to seek a TUE as required.
Source:
USADA. (September 30, 2011). US Track And Field Athlete Accepts Sanction For Doping Violation. Retrieved from http://www.usada.org/media/sanction-shumaker
Related Posts :
- Russian Athlete Tells Olympic Officials to Go to Hell After Testing Positive for Steroids
- Shotputter Adam Nelson May Receive Athens Gold After Winner Tested Positive for Steroids
- Officials Still Catching Steroid Users from the 2004 Athens Olympics
- Olympic Discus Thrower Loses Silver Medal After Testing Positive for Anabolic Steroids
